San Antonio FC inks deal with former NYCFC midfielder Mikey Lopez

Former NYCFC midfielder Mikey Lopez will join San Antonio FC ahead of the 2018 USL season, SAFC announced Friday.

Image: SanAntonioFC.com

A proud native of Mission, Texas, Lopez returns to Texas after spending the 2016 and 2017 seasons with the New York MLS club. The defensive midfielder made 27 appearances in a crowded NYC midfield over the course of his two seasons with the club. Before joining the City Football Group-owned club, Lopez was drafted by Sporting Kansas City in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft and was under contract with the club for three seasons.

Lopez has the potential to fit in a role former SAFC midfielder Michael Reed held for two seasons as a holding midfielder, playing a primarily defensive role when the club deploys a 4-2-3-1 and a slightly more attacking role in a 4-1-4-1. With other defensive midfielders Pecka, Maxi Rodriguez, and Ryan Roushandel already announced, Lopez isn’t likely to be asked to play a strictly defensive role.

Lopez has also played right back sparingly, though now that Mark O’Ojong has been announced as returning he is likely to stick to the central midfield.

With these announcements our new projected starting XI could look something like this:

Posted by Kyle Mahnke

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One Comment

Glad my guy O’Ojong is back. Although I am concerned for our depth at fullback. I assume we will make a few more signings but with just Cochrane and O’Ojong we are a little thin. And I like the addition of Mickey Lopez but I am skeptical of him playing in a more advanced role, every time I’ve seen him with NYCFC he has been a true 6 and not shown much as an 8. I actually think he can play in a 2 man midfield with Pecka in a 3-4-3 with Roushandel in a libero role. Either way I think Reed faded last season so it won’t be tough to replace his production.